Feeling dizzy, off balance, or like the room is spinning? It might be vertigo, a treatable inner ear condition. In this blog, George, our Vestibular Physiotherapist at Apex Physiotherapy, Bicton, shares the 10 key signs of vertigo and how physiotherapy can help you feel steady again, often in just one or two sessions.
If you’ve ever felt dizzy, off balance, or like the room is spinning, you may have experienced vertigo. As a physiotherapist in Perth who specialises in vestibular conditions, I see many patients each week who are unsure if their symptoms are “just dizziness” or something more.
Vertigo is different from lightheadedness. It’s a specific sensation where your brain thinks you or your surroundings are moving when they’re not. The most common cause in Perth is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), a condition where tiny calcium crystals in your inner ear move out of place and end up in places where they shouldn't be! Thankfully, it is also one of the most treatable forms of vertigo. Typically resolving within one or two sessions!
So how do you know if what you’re feeling is truly Vertigo? Let’s look at the 10 most common signs
1. Sensitivity to movement – Dizziness triggered by rolling over in bed, bending forward, or looking up.
2. Dizziness – A constant or sudden feeling of being unsteady.
3. Spinning – The hallmark symptom, as though the room or your body is moving.
4.Loss of balance – Feeling pulled to one side or unable to stand steadily.
5. Nausea – Queasiness or upset stomach linked to dizziness.
6.Vomiting – In severe cases, spinning leads to vomiting. This is quite similar to motion sickness.
7. Blurred vision – Difficulty focusing on objects even if your vision is normal, particularly when you're moving.
8. Eye flickering (also called nystagmus) – If you know someone who’s unsure if they have vertigo, take a look at their eyes when they're experiencing a dizzy spell; flicking is a strong indication that they do.
9. Headaches – It's possible to get migraines that are manifested from issues within the inner ear, also called vestibular migraines or severe vertigo attacks.
10. Difficulty walking straight – A staggering or drifting gait, especially during acute episodes, sometimes leading to bumping into walls at home.
If vertigo is interfering with your daily life, whether the symptoms are constant or come and go, you don’t have to keep struggling or guessing what’s wrong.
At Apex Physiotherapy, now part of WA Health Group, we take the time to understand what you are experiencing. Using gentle positional tests such as the Dix-Hallpike, we can identify conditions like BPPV. From there, treatment often involves the Epley manoeuvre, a safe and effective technique that encourages the calcium crystals to return to where they typically reside in the inner ear to bring relief, often within the very first session.
Many of the patients I've treated can't believe how quick they get better and don't know why they put up with it for so long. Particularly in cases where they have been dizzy for weeks or even months. With the right treatment, most people improve in just 1 to 2 sessions.
You do not need to live with spinning, nausea, or imbalance. If you or someone you know is experiencing vertigo, I encourage you to book an appointment with me at Apex Physiotherapy. Together, we will get to the root cause and help you feel steady and confident again.